Yantic residents want local post office reopened

Nine months after the U.S. Postal Service suddenly closed its Yantic branch because of undisclosed safety issues, residents turned out for an emotionally charged meeting with postal officials to discuss the facility’s future. Since February, 230 Yantic customers have been forced to get their mail at the Boz...

Nine months after the U.S. Postal Service suddenly closed its Yantic branch because of undisclosed safety issues, residents turned out for an emotionally charged meeting with postal officials to discuss the facility’s future.

Since February, 230 Yantic customers have been forced to get their mail at the Bozrah post office two miles away.

That’s a major inconvenience, because it closes at 4:30 p.m., severely limiting the ability of Yantic customers to pick up their mail every day, residents said.

“I’ve got to drive five miles to Bozrah and back to find out I don’t have any mail,” Al Jonasch of Norwich said. “With gas prices and stuff, I’d prefer Uncle Sam burning his gas and not me burning mine.”

Jonasch and about 70 others came to the Yantic Volunteer Fire Department for a two-hour meeting on Thursday night with postal service administrators.

And while postal officials couldn’t promise when — or if — the 131 Yantic Road site would reopen, USPS operations manager Joe Mazzola said several options could be implemented quickly to accommodate the needs of residents.

“I do care about you getting the same service that everybody is entitled to. I want to make sure you’re not under-served,” Mazzola said. “We need to know what hardships we’ve placed on you.”

From installing centralized box units in Yantic, putting a time lock at the Bozrah building and extending rural route deliveries, Mazzola said the postal service is committed to finding solutions until a final decision is made concerning the local branch.

Thursday’s meeting was a required part of the postal service’s review process ahead of any decision to shutter branches, officials said. A ruling is expected within 60 days, officials said.

Lisa Bouchard, who lives in Yantic, leaves work an hour early one day a week to pick up mail for herself and seven neighbors who are now served by Bozrah.

“The point is, we want our mail on a daily basis like every other United States citizen,” Bouchard said.

Sharlene Cedrone echoed that.

“Every other week or once a week, we can go to the (Bozrah) post office, and it fits,” she said. “We need a place where we can get 24-hour access.”

Bassem Salahi, owner of Lazizah Bakery, said he was angry it took so long for the postal service to meet with Yantic-area customers.

“You don’t care. You waited nine months for this meeting. I don’t have faith in you,” he said. “You don’t represent yourselves. You represent an American symbol. You work for me.”